Method for user-aided network performance and connection quality reporting

ABSTRACT

Method for user-aided communication evaluation and performance and for producing a quality report regarding a communication connection entails signaling of a services provider by a first endpoint user in real-time entails establishing a first communication link between the first endpoint user and a second endpoint user. A second communication link between the first end point user and the services provider is determined. The methods continue by analyzing of the first and second communication links for quality by the services provider and generating statistics based on the analysis for quality in the connection. The methods can conclude by producing a quality report using those statistics. The quality report can initiate an immediate response in real-time or can be stored for a later response.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to co-pending U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 60/622,042 filed on Oct. 26, 2004.

FIELD

The present embodiments relate to methods for user-aided communicationevaluation and performance, in real-time, and production of a qualityreport for a communications connection.

BACKGROUND

Evaluation, testing, and maintenance of quality in a communicationsnetwork, particularly transmission and communication connections intelephony communications, has become necessary and costly. Thisnecessary tasks is driven-by the increasing number of people who havebecome directly affected by poor quality communication connections, andtheir need for a way to report the problem and receive an appropriateresponse in real-time.

A person or end-user in a communication connection can be the first toperceive or detect a degradation of quality in the communicationsnetwork. Traditionally, this end-user might notify his/her networkprovider in order to report the problem and, then, wait for a subsequentcontact or response from the provider regarding the problem. Also, theend-user might have to repeat the reporting several times to actuallyremedy all the existing quality problems.

Thus, a need exists for a method to acquire information in real-timefrom an end-user regarding quality communication performance and toproduce a quality report for a communications connection in real-time.The endpoint user's perceived quality data or problem reporting can beused by the services provider to improve communication performance inreal-time and to foster new services, applications, etc.

Communications providers, in addition to possessing the ability toreceive accurate reports from an end-user, must be able to performmonitoring and testing in real-time to detect and respond to any changesin the quality of a link in the communications network. Previous methodsfor testing the integrity of the links in telephony systems haveincluded the transmission of signals and frequency tests along acommunications link. In addition, this testing can require lengthydurations and can lead to substantial delays in response times.

Thus, a need exists for an endpoint user to have the ability, inreal-time, to provide information in an intelligent format to acommunications provider, that will aid the communications provider inperforming a required testing or monitoring of the connection andpreparing a response in real-time using a quality information reportprepared by the communications provider.

The present embodiments meet these needs.

SUMMARY

The present embodiments are methods for evaluating the quality of acommunication network, in real-time, and producing a quality report fora communication connection.

End-point users, who are affected by quality problems in acommunications connection, are given the ability to report theseproblems in real-time to a services provider. The end-point users canserve as perceivers or detectors of the quality in a communicationsconnection. The perceived quality information can be reported by theend-user to a network, in real-time, so the communications provider canincorporate the information into their monitoring, testing, tuning, andproblem-isolation methodologies. Then, using this information, thecommunications provider can produce a quality report in real-time thatcan be used to address the problem. Endpoints can refer to IPvoice/video communications devices, such as voice-over-IP telephoneand/or IP videophone type devices.

The present methods begin with the signaling of a services provider by afirst endpoint user in real-time. The next step involves thecommunications provider determining a first communication link betweenthe first endpoint user and a second endpoint user. A third step in themethod is the communications provider determining a second communicationlink between the first end point user and the services provider. Afourth step in the method involves the analyzing of the first and secondcommunication links for quality by the services provider and generatingstatistics based on the analysis for quality in the connection.

Analysis of the communication links can be by transmitting and receivingdata test packets on the communication links to determine if data testpackets are dropped or delayed or corrupted during communication, whichcan indicate a communications link performance degradation and adecrease in the quality of the communications connection.

Statistics can comprise an alert, a data snapshot on the status of thecommunication links at a given moment in time, information on noise on acall using the communication links, information concerning dropped datapackets over the communication links, information on delayed datapackets over the communication links, and combinations thereof.

The methods next include producing a quality report in real-time usingthose statistics. The quality report can be stored for a later response,or the report can be used to initiate an immediate response, such asadjusting controllable equipment or software to improve the quality of acommunications connection in real time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a flow diagram for an embodiment of the method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Before explaining the present embodiments in detail, it is to beunderstood that the embodiments are not limited to the particularembodiments, and they can be practiced or carried out in various ways.

The present embodiments relate to methods for obtaining communicationconnection quality information from an endpoint user, in real-time. Thisquality information can be used in performing testing and monitoring ofa communications connection to produce a quality report and response.

An end-point user can be considered the ultimate perceiver or detectorof quality and quality degradation for a communications connection. Anend-point user can be the first to be affected by a degradation ofquality in a communication; and thus, the user can acquire a need toreport the quality problem to a communications provider.

The endpoint user can be given the ability to report perceivedcommunication connection quality degradations. This quality informationcan be reported by the end-user to a network, in real-time, to acommunications provider. The communications provider can incorporate theinformation into their monitoring, testing, tuning, andproblem-isolation methodologies to generate statistics. Using thesestatistics, the communications provider can produce a quality reportthat can address the problem and improve the performance of thecommunications connection. The quality report can be used also to fostera new or additional service to the user, a new application of anexisting service to the user, or new classes of services (CoS) forcommunications providers, and combinations thereof.

The present embodiments involve signaling of a services provider by afirst endpoint user, in real time, regarding a perceived communicationconnection quality degradation. The services provider can be a land linetelephone service provider, a voice over IP service provider, a cellularservice provider, a satellite telephone service provider, or anycombinations thereof. Examples of manners for the first endpoint user tosignal the provider include touch tone sequences, special signalingsequences from a voice over IP telephony device, dial tonemulti-frequency (DTMF) tones from a conventional telephone, and anycombinations thereof.

The methods include the step of a communications provider determining afirst communication link between the first endpoint user and a secondendpoint user. When the communications provider receives a signal from afirst endpoint user, the provider can use computer instructions todetermine the existence of a link between the first endpoint user and asecond endpoint user and to begin an analysis of the connection.Examples of connection types include IP connections, telephoneconnections, or any combination of these or other network connections.

The methods continue be establishing a second communication link betweenthe first endpoint user and the communications provider. Thecommunications provider can use computer instructions to determine theexistence of a link between the first endpoint user and thecommunications provider for receiving quality information from theendpoint user. After the links have been established, the computerinstructions can perform an analysis automatically and in real-time, orthis analysis can be delayed and performed later in a batch analysis.

Next, the first and second communication links are analyzed for qualityby the services provider and statistics are generated based on theanalyses for quality in the connection(s). An analysis of thecommunications link between the first endpoint user and the secondendpoint user can be performed by the communications providertransmitting and receiving data test packets. For example, data packetscan be transmitted on a communications link to a known destination as atest. The communications provider can monitor the number of datapackets, the travel time of the data packets, or combinations thereof,during transmission and receipt, to determine an exact measurement andan indication of quality for the communications link being tested. If adelay in the receipt of the test packets is detected, or not all of thetest packets are received at the destination point indicating some ofthe test packets are being dropped or corrupted; then, degradation inthe quality of the performance of the communications link is indicated.

Results from the testing performed with the data test packets, thecomputer instructions, the end-point user quality information, and otherprovider information can be compiled into statistics for generating aquality report. The quality report can include an alert, a data snapshoton the status of the communication links at a given moment in time,information on noise on a call using the communication links,information concerning dropped data packets over the communicationlinks, information on delayed data packets over the communication links,or combinations thereof.

A quality report can be generated from the compiled statistics. Thegenerated statistics can be compiled and produced in an intelligentformat for producing a quality report. The quality report can beproduced as a web-based report for facilitating responses andappropriate dissemination.

The quality report can be produced and stored for a later response tothe communication performance or as a reference. The quality report canbe used to initiate an immediate response, particularly in the case of astatistical alert, wherein the response can be adjusting controllableequipment or software to improve the quality of the communicationconnection, in real time.

The embodiments can enable the endpoint user to real-time report aperceived concern about quality of a communications connection to aservices provider, such as an internet service provider (ISP), and toenable the communications provider to provide an analysis and a remedyin real-time.

The present embodiments allow for the endpoint users (customer) to beincluded as part of the communications quality monitoring and adjustmentprocess, which more closely connects the customer to the serviceprovider and ensures improved, high-quality communication connectionsand services for the user.

The following is an example of how the embodied methods can be used toobtain user-aided quality performance information for a communicationsconnection and produce a quality report in real-time:

Step 1—A first endpoint user signals a services provider in real time,regarding a perceived communication connection quality degradation. Anattorney at a law firm in Houston, Tex. calls an attorney at a law firmin New Jersey. Noise on the communication connection during theirconversation prevents a clear communication between the attorney inHouston, Tex. and the attorney in New Jersey. The attorney in Houston,Tex. signals, in real-time, her AT&T™ network provider using a touchtone sequence to report the perceived quality communication connectionconcern.

Step 2—A communications provider determines a first communication linkbetween the first endpoint user and a second endpoint user. A secondstep of the method includes the AT&T network communications providerusing computer instructions to determine a first communication linkbetween the first attorney in Houston, Tex. and a second attorney in NewJersey.

Step 3—A communications provider determines a second communication linkbetween the first endpoint user and the communications provider. A thirdstep of the method includes the AT&T network communications providerusing computer instructions to determine a second communication linkbetween the first attorney user in Houston, Tex. and the AT&T networkcommunications provider.

Step 4—An analysis of the first and second communication links forquality is performed by the services provider and statistics based onthe analyses for quality in the connection(s) are generated. As anexample, the AT&T network communications provider performs a timedanalysis using a specified quantity ‘n’ of data test packets on thecommunications link between the attorney in Houston, Tex. and the secondattorney in New Jersey and receives all test packets within thespecified time duration. Next, the AT&T network communications providerperforms a timed analysis using a specified quantity ‘n’ of data testpackets on the communications link between the attorney in Houston, Tex.and the AT&T network. Say, In this case, quantity (n−5) valid data testpackets are received within the specified time duration, indicating fivedropped data test packets and a degradation of quality in theperformance of the communications connection between the Houston, Tex.attorney and the AT&T network. Such a packet loss might manifest itselfas audible noise of to the conversants. Statistics in the form ofinformation regarding the noise on the call connection and an alert torespond in real-time are generated.

Step 5—A quality report is produced from the generated statistics. TheAT&T network communications provider acknowledges the alert promptly anduses the statistical information on the behavior of the call to producea web-based quality report which enables the AT&T network communicationsprovider to respond in real-time to improve the quality on thecommunication connection. Accordingly, the attorney in Houston, Tex. cannow converse using a high-quality communication connection with theAttorney in New Jersey.

The embodiments of the invention can be best understood by reference tothe FIGURE. FIG. 1 depicts a method for producing a quality report for acommunication connection. The method starts at step 100, which includessignaling, in real time, a service provider by a first user. After step102 a first communication link is determined between the first user anda second user; then at step 104 a second communication link between thefirst user and the service provider is determined.

The method continues with step 106, which includes analyzing the firstcommunication link and the second communication link for quality by theservice provider forming a quality analysis. Then step 108, generatingstatistics using the quality analysis, is performed. The methodcontinues at step 110, which includes producing a quality report usingthe generated statistics.

The depicted embodiment of the method continues with step 112, whichincludes identifying quality problems with the first communication linkand the second communication link based on the generated statistics andimmediately adjusting controllable equipment or software to improvequality of the first communication link and the second communicationlink. Then at step 114 an alarm is provided when quality problems withthe first communication link and the second communication link areidentified.

1. A method for producing a quality report for a communicationconnection, wherein the method comprises the steps of: a. signaling, inreal time, a service provider by a first user; b. determining a firstcommunication link between the first user and a second user; c.determining a second communication link between the first user and theservice provider; d. analyzing the first communication link and thesecond communication link for quality by the service provider forming anquality analysis; e. generating statistics using the quality analysis;f. producing a quality report using the generated statistics; and g.identifying quality problems with the first communication link and thesecond communication link based on the generated statistics andimmediately adjusting controllable equipment or software to improvequality of the first communication link and the second communicationlink.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providingan alarm when quality problems with the first communication link and thesecond communication link are identified.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein the quality report comprises a member selected from the groupconsisting of an alert, a data snapshot on the status of thecommunication links at a given moment in time, information on noise on acall using the communication links, information concerning dropped datapackets over the communication links, information on delayed datapackets over the communication links, and combinations thereof.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the step of signaling is performed using amember selected from the group consisting of a touch tone sequence, aspecial signaling sequence from a voice over IP telephony device, a dialtone multi-frequency tone from a conventional telephone, andcombinations thereof.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step ofanalyzing the first communication link and the second communication linkentails transmitting and receiving data test packets on the firstcommunication link and the second communication link to determine if thedata test packets are dropped during communication.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the step of analyzing the first communication link andthe second communication link entails transmitting and receiving datatest packets on the communication links to determine if data testpackets are delayed in transmission.
 7. The method of claim 1, whereinthe statistics are produced as a web based quality report.
 8. The methodof claim 1, wherein the connection is an internet protocol connection, atelephone connection, or combinations thereof.
 9. The method of claim 1,wherein the service provider is selected from the group consisting of aland line telephone service provider, a voice over IP service provider,a cellular service provider, a satellite telephone service provider, andcombinations thereof.
 10. A method for producing a quality report for acommunication connection, wherein the method comprises the steps of: a.signaling, in real time, a service provider by a first user; b.determining a first communication link between the first user and asecond user; c. determining a second communication link between thefirst user and the service provider; d. analyzing the firstcommunication link and the second communication link for quality by theservice provider forming an quality analysis; e. generating statisticsusing the quality analysis; f. producing a quality report using thegenerated statistics; and g. analyzing the first communication link andthe second communication link is performed automatically using computerinstructions when the services provider receives the signal from thefirst endpoint user.
 11. A method for producing a quality report for acommunication connection, wherein the method comprises the steps of: a.signaling, in real time, a service provider by a first user; b.determining a first communication link between the first user and asecond user; c. determining a second communication link between thefirst user and the service provider; d. analyzing the firstcommunication link and the second communication link for quality by theservice provider forming an quality analysis; e. generating statisticsusing the quality analysis; f. producing a quality report using thegenerated statistics; and g. analyzing the first communication link andthe second communication link is delayed by the service provider andperformed in a batch analysis.